What happens during your dog's appointment at George's

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First appointment

Upon arriving for your first appointment, our groomer will conduct a consultation with you to collect all the details we need before carrying out the groom.
We will ask for your dog's health history, temperament, allergies, sensitivities and grooming experience. We will check your dog's coat condition for any matting to ensure your preferred style can be carried out. We will discuss your styling preferences and treatment details, along with the price of the appointment.

First drop off

Welcome to the salon

You will be then be invited to walk your dog through to the salon where you can see our space, and choose a scent for your dog's groom.
We will either confirm a collection time or agree to call you nearer the time.
On first visits, we usually like to allow a little more time for your dog to settle in.

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Subsequent appointments

When you check-in for subsequent appointments, you will be able to talk to a groomer to confirm the style you'd like and communicate any other preferences. You are also welcome to choose a new scent or add on extras (subject to timings and availability on the day).

First step

Bath

Your dog's groom will start with a warm bath. We use the highest quality, natural shampoos. We select each dog's shampoo carefully to suit their coat and skin, taking into consideration any sensitivities.
We carry out two shampoo washes and thoroughly rinse twice.
Any extras, such as facials, mud baths, ultrasonic teeth cleaning will be carried out at this stage.

Step 2

Blow dry

Following their bath, we gently towel dry each dog and spray them with a conditioning treatment (unless you requested otherwise). We then use a high velocity drier to blow the excess water off. To ensure a perfect coat for styling, we then brush your dog's coat inch by inch with a warm drier to remove every knot and tangle and to straighten curly coats ready for scissoring or clipping. Please note that matting can not be removed as it would cause undue pain so in this event, we would call you for your consent to clip.

Step 3

Styling

Dependent on your dog's breed, coat and styling preferences.
We work with clippers and scissors at George's. We predominantly scissor dogs' legs, head and face. This is more time consuming but allows for a much nicer finish and shape.
We shave under the pads, tidy the hygiene area, brush their teeth, clean their ears and pluck them when necessary. We clean the area around their eyes and clip their nails. Any extras that you booked will be finished at this stage, from paw & nose balm, to the final step of ultrasonic teeth cleaning.
Your dog is now allowed on the floor, sprayed with chosen fragrance and allowed to play or relax as they wish.

Final step

After the groom

Your dog's treatment is now finished and they are free to play or relax in the salon, as they wish. We clean the area, tidy up and prepare for the next client.
To offer the highest level of service, we don't overlap dogs for each groomer so they are fully dedicated to one dog at a time.
We don't have cages for waiting dogs, only sofas, a relaxation pen and toys.
If this was their first visit, they will leave with a beautiful bow on their collar or harness.

How are we different?

One dog

One dog per groomer. It is common practice for groomers to work on multiple dogs at once to fit more appointments in the diary.

We never do this at George's. Each dog is allocated a groomer and will have their full attention throughout their visit.

No cage dryers

We dry each dog completely by hand, on the grooming table. We don't own a cage dryer as we don't agree with the risks they can pose to dogs.

Although hand-drying is time consuming, it provides a better coat finish for styling and a safe experience for your dog.

Natural products

We only use the highest quality products available with natural ingredients. We believe it's important to treat our clients with the utmost care and this carries through to every product and tool that we use.

Calm and comfort

A calm, comfortable environment. With soft music, plenty of space to relax, comfortable sofas and a basket of toys, the salon is designed with dogs in mind.

We do occasionally have chatty dogs so we do all we can to avoid booking nervous dogs in at the same time.

FAQs

How much does a groom cost?

The prices for our full treatments (Full package, Bath & Tidy etc) are dependent on factors such as a dog's breed, coat type, temperament, grooming frequency and more.

For this reason, we can only confirm prices upon meeting your dog for a consultation.
How do I book in?

You can call the team between Tuesday and Saturday 9am to 6pm to speak to a groomer. Alternatively, you can book online and we will call you back to confirm details.
Do I need to pay a deposit?

Yes, we take a deposit for each first-time client.

We also take a deposit for any appointment following a no-show or last minute cancellation.
I need to move my appointment.

We require 48 hours notice for any move or cancellation. Any later than this, the full cost of the appointment will be charged.
Can I see photos of my dog being groomed?

We always try to get pictures of dogs in the salon.
I don't want my dog posted on socials for privacy reasons.

Just say the word and we will respect it. Your privacy is important to us.

Ensuring a positive experience for your dog

Our recommendations

To make sure your dog has the best experience possible and for you to leave with the exact groom you wish for your dog, here are some recommendations for what to do at home.

First and foremost, it's important to introduce your dog to grooming from a young age.

We also highly recommend using just one grooming salon or groomer to help your dog become as comfortable as possible with the experience and to create a routine. Alternating from one place to another can make it a more stressful experience than it needs to be.

We will communicate a recommended grooming frequency to you based on your dog's coat and its condition to avoid any tangles building into mats which cannot be removed.

You can also book a bath & dry or a bath & tidy between full grooms.

Last but not least, it's important to maintain your dog's coat at home with regular brushing. We are happy to show you proper brushing technique so you can keep on top of knots in between grooms.

We are happy to answer any questions you may have so please pop in or give us a call to find out more.

George's way

Who we are

We are a small, locally owned business named after our beloved poodle George.

We love caring for dogs and we take pride in operating to the highest standard and creating the experience we wanted for ourselves and George.